It's published by Osprey and many of the illustrations look like they first saw the light of day in Men At Arms books and I guess much of the text may have done so too.
However, I don't have that many of the MAA books covering the period and £14.99 for a book of over 120 pages seemed like a good deal.
The book's divided into four sections covering the early and late republic and the early and late empire. Each section covers the Roman armies of the period and then gives a chapter to each of the major enemies of Rome. In the early Republican section there's a chapter on the Carthaginians...
... and then the Hellenistic successor empires. In the late republic period the Numantines of the Iberian peninsula get a chapter of their own as do the Gauls and the armies of the 1st century BCE Roman civil war. In the early imperial phase we cover the British Celts, the Germans and Dacians, and the Parthians. Finally the late imperial section features the Sassanids, Goths and Huns.
The book's an enjoyable mix of general history, guide to the armies, and accounts of campaigns. Well worth the price.
3 comments:
Thanks for the review - I am never sure if these collective works are worth it when compared to the individual books but this looks a more comprehensive edition.
I have the same book, and purchased it for the same reason. Unfortunately, the seller was not so interesting as Rutupiae...
I have to say the quality of books available in the shops at English Heritage sites seems to have improved in recent years. No EH but the National Museum of Scotland's shop had a good range too. Nearly bought a weighty tome about the Picts when we were there.
Rutupiae/Richborough is actually worth the visit. If you go, get the guidebook; it's worth it to understand the different stages of occupation and their associated ditches and banks.
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